Embryo Screening and the Ethics of Human Genetic Engineering
Recently, the world's first "designer babies" have been born.
A baby girl born was embryonically screened to be free of the genetic risk for breast cancer. Scientists removed the faulty BRCA1 gene from the embryo to prevent the child from inheriting the genetic risk for breast cancer that is prevalent in her ancestry.
This procedure is known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and has become routine in preventative medicine. The beginnings of preventative medicine only allowed for the screening of diseases such as Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis leaving the mother with the opportunity to either continue with or terminate the pregnancy. Today though, PGD allows the prescreening of embryos to solely allow those free of genetic diseases to implant.
While a wonderful advancement to most, some opposition still arises with some who say, "it reinforces existing discrimination in a 'neo-eugenic future'". Also, the prevention of the transmission of genetic diseases may be beneficial but where is science headed now? Babies with predetermined cosmetic features, or increased mental ability? Are we moving toward Gattaca?
Very helpful blog post... genetic testing can help to understand the breast cancer genetic risk. Thanks
ReplyDelete